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THINKING ALOUD. 

A BOOK OF 

§ailtr Igkfcftatfons fox Cjnlirritr. 



BY 

GRACE WEBSTER HIKSD ALE, 

Author of 

44 COMIffG TO THE KING, A BOOK OP DEYOTIONS 
TOE CHILDEEN." 



'ferns, engrave it on my heart ; 
Sliat 3fim tlie one thing needful art / 

could from all tilings parted ~be ; 
73ut never } never, %?ord ; from 3hee. ;; 



£Uf KEW YORE: 
ANSON I). F. RANDOLPH, 
£To. TTO BROADWAY, 

Corner of Ninth Street. 

1865. 

i-iro Ju /Pot 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by 

A^SOX D. F . RANDOLPH, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, 
for the Southern District of New York. 



3* D~) ST" 



SDWAKD IbfeENflR*, FEINltffi, 

20 >"|i^| vritiT/u) 



CP 



li 



This Book is designed to be a companion to " Coming 
to the King." I anticipate the feeling which many parents 
may have that children cannot be expected to meditate on 
Sacred Truth. Of course they will not, unless they are 
taught to do so. But will not a child's mind grow and 
work in the way in which it is led? Do we all give child- 
ren the credit which they deserve, for thonghtfuluess and 
spiritual perception ? 

The power of reflection, though weak in the beginning, 
will increase by use, and to learn to appropriate God's 
blessed Word to ourselves, is an infinite gain. Though 
these meditations fall so far short of what they ought to 
be, in view of my object, still I hope that many children 
will find pleasure and profit in reading them more than 
once. 

I have gathered thoughts and suggestions, which it 
seemed to me might be useful ; and I have tried to write 
out the natural ideas of a thoughtful child after reading 
its daily portion of the Divine Word. May it please the 
Good Shepherd, by this humble book, to show his lambs 
the heavenly pastures where he feeds his flock I 

G. W. H. 

Brooklyn, X. Y., 
Oct. 1865. 



Dear Children, — After reading God/ 8 Holy 
Word, did you ever leave the book open "before you, 
and talk aloud to yourself about its precious truth f 
Did you ever think that the Bible is God % s message 
of love to you ? Try to think of what you read, and 
" hide God's Word in your heart, that you may love 
Him and that you may not sin against Him." Ask 
the Holy Spirit " to take of the th ings of Christ and 
to show them unto you." 

G. TV. H. 



THINKING AIOUD. 



FIRST DA Y. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his 
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 
him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 
John, iii. 16. 

He will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy. 
Zeph., iii. 17. 

And he arose, and came to his father. But 
when he was yet a great way off, his father saw 
him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his 
neck, and kissed him. Luke, xv. 20. 

T LIKE to sit and imagine how the father 
of the poor prodigal looked when he 
saw his son afar off. I think I can see him 
reaching out his kind arms as he ran to 
meet him. He had not a thought of turning 
the poor young man away, though he knew 



5 



THINKING ALOUD. 



all about his foolish and wicked conduct. 
He could hardly bear to hear him confess 
his wrong doing, or wait to give him an 
opportunity to ask forgiveness. No ; he 
was the poor prodigal's kind and patient 
father, and he felt in haste to bring him 
into the house, and to put on him garments 
such as his son should wear, and to put a 
ring upon his finger, and to rejoice over him 
with singing ! 

It is a beautiful story. I read it over and 
over again, and it seems to tell me of God's 
great and wonderful love to us sinners who 
have wandered away from him. It makes 
me think of the many times my parents and 
friends have forgiven my disobedience and 
unkindness and ingratitude. I remember 
how tenderly they have treated me. and 
how they have taken me in their arms and 
drawn me close to them when they felt sure 
of my sorrow for my faults. 

I'm sure that the Saviour means to invite 
us to return to God from all our wicked 
ways- How can I be afraid or unwilling to 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



7 



tell my heavenly Father all about my sins ? 
He does not bid us come to him that he may 
censure and condemn us. Jesus, the Re- 
deemer, says that he did not come into the 
world to condemn us, but to save us. O, 
let me never be afraid to go and tell Jesus 
all the sins of my wicked life ! I will not 
think of God as an angry judge — though I 
know that he will call me to give an account 
of my conduct at the solemn judgment day. 
I will remember how he sent his clear Son 
to die for sinners. I will remember this 
story of the penitent prodigal, in which 
God represents himself as a loving father 
rejoicing to take back into his arms his un- 
happy and penitent son. 

God, the holy Father, sent his beloved 
Son into the world because he longed to 
have us return unto him, that he might save 
and bless us. 

Not a word of stern upbraiding, 
Grieved his sad and suffering soul, 

"When the boy his sin confessing 
To his father's bosom stole ! 



THINKING ALOUD. 



Both were glad, yet both were weeping, 
While they stood with arms entwined ; 

And that young heart's anxious beating, 
Proved the grief that rilled his mind. 

Songs of joy were echoed sweetly, 
Through the halls of that dear home ; 

And the father's love told quickly, 
That the wanderer had come. 

Overcome with giief and weeping, 

Lying on his father's breast, 
The poor boy his sins confessing, 

Sunk at last to peace and rest. 

G. W. H. 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



9 



SECOND BAY. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet 
of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth 
peace ; that bringeth good tidings of goocj, that 
publisheth salvation. Isaiah, lii. 7. 

And the angel said unto them, Fear not ; for, 
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 
which shall be to all people. Luke, ii. 10. 

The gospel of the grace of God. Acts, xx. 24. 

The gospel of Christ. Rom., i. 16. 

The gospel of your salvation. Eph., i. 13. 

Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel 
of the kingdom of God, 

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the king- 
dom of God is at hand : repent ye, and believe 
the gospel. Mark, i. 14-15. 

rpHE word Gospel means good news or 
glad tidings. It is in the precious 
Gospel that we read of the grace and mercy 
of God to our sinful souls. 

The books which were written by Mat- 



10 



THIXEIXG ALOUD. 



thew, Mark, Luke and John, contain the 
history of Jesus, so that we are told the 
story of his life by four different men who 
knew and loved him. They wrote out God's 
message of love to sinners as they heard it 
from Jesus' lips ; and they explained to us 
how the holy life of the dear Saviour ob- 
tained precious rewards and blessings for 
us, and how his death upon the cross pro- 
cured the pardon of our sins. I think they 
did well to call their books " the Gospel/' 
for certainly no such good news had ever 
been sent to the world before. It was, in- 
deed, glad tidings to all who heard or read 
of the Saviour's love ! It was the gospel of 
our salvation, brought to us from God by 
Christ the Redeemer ! He came saying, 
" Repent ye, and believe the Gospel." He 
told us that if we were sorry for our sins 
we might believe the good news of God's 
willingness to forgive us ; and to all the 
poor and wretched around him he preached 
the precious Gospel. He told us that he 
came to take our place, and to suffer the 



THINKING ALOUD. 



1 1 



punishment which the holy law required for 
our sins : and that his own holy life and 
perfect obedience should merit for us a 
place in heaven. Oh, what a Saviour Jesus 
is ! He has obtained eternal happiness for 
all who love him ; he has promised to pre- 
pare us by his Holy Spirit to live with him 
in heaven. He tells us that God will merci- 
fully receive us when we die if we have 
truly repented of our sins, and tried to live 
a holy life. 

Oh God, please to make my heart pure 
from sin in the blood of Jesus, and help me 
to rejoice in the glad tidings which tell us 
of all the good things which thou art so 
willing to give us for the sake of what thy 
dear Son has done and suffered for us ! 
Amen. 




12 



TRlNKim ALOUD. 



THIRD DAY. 

This is my beloved son, in whom I am well 
pleased. Mat., iii. 17. 

The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' 
sake. Is., xlii. 21. 

Be ye holy. Lev., xx, 7. 

Walk before me, and be thou perfect. Gen., 
xvii. 1. 

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our 
righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Is., lxiv. 6. 

He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. 
Eph., i. 6. 

TT makes me very happy when I see that 
my conduct pleases my parents, and that 
they are satisfied with my work when they 
have given me a particular thing to do. I 
feel as if nothing could induce me to neg- 
lect their wishes, when to gain their ap- 
proval is so sweet. But oh, it grieves me to 
think that God is so dissatisfied with me ! 
I should like to please him perfectly, so that 



THIXKIXa ALOUD, 



he would not be disappointed in me ! I 
should like to do always just those things he 
commands and wishes me to do ; just those 
things which he expects me to do ! I wish 
that there were never in my heart any 
feelings but just those a little Christian 
should have ! In one of David's Psalms it 
says : " The Lord looked down from heaven 
upon the children of men" to see if there 
were any that were good, and there was 
;i not one. ?; And yet it does not comfort 
me that I am like every body else in the 
world ; I think it makes me wish all the 
more that I could please God, and win his 
smile, to make me happy. At any rate I 
will try to obey his commands ; I will try 
to watch my heart and keep it pure. 

How thankful I am to know that I am 
not going alone before God to stand clothed 
in my own righteousness. Indeed, I need 
not present myself to God at all for his ap- 
proval — I must not do that. Jesus " ap- 
pears in the presence of God for us," and 
God says of him : " This is my beloved Son, 
2 



i 4 



THINKING ALOUD. 



in whom I am ivell pleased. 77 The Saviour 
came into the world to take my place, and 
to bear my punishment — to suffer and die 
for me. And he lived for me too, he obeyed 
the law for me, so that I might have his 
righteousness as a beautiful robe to cover 
my sin-stained soul. God is well pleased 
even with me for his righteousness' sake. If 
I am penitent for my sins God will not look 
at them ; he will not mention them to me 
any more ; but he will look upon Jesus, in 
whom he is always well pleased, and who 
offers himself to God in my place. 

This comforts me more than I can tell ; 
but still I want to be holy myself! What 
infinite mercy it is in God to accept me 
through Jesus in this way ! Certainly he 
expects that I will try to please him in my 
own life ! Oh, my dear heavenly Father, 
give me thy holy Spirit to help me ; do not 
let me be willing to offend thee, who art so 
good and merciful to me ! My disobedience 
to my parents would disappoint and grieve 
their hearts. Oh, God, thou hast done in- 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



in- 



finitely more for me than my earthly parents 
can ever do ; let me not be a disobedient 
and rebellious child to thee ! Amen. 

Jesus ! thy robe of righteousness 
My beauty is, — my glorious dress : 
Mid flaming worlds, in this arrayed, 
"With joy shall I lift up ray head. 

TVTien from the dust of death, I rise 
To claim my mansion in the skies, 
Ev'n then shall this be all my plea, — 
" Jesus hath lived and died for me." 

C. Wesley. 



5 



THINKING ALOUD. 



FO TJRTH DA T. 



Search the Scriptures. John, v. 9. 

And that from a child thou hast known the 
Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise 
unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ 
Jesus. 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. 
2 Tim., iii. 15, 16. 

Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I 
might not sin against thee. Ps., cxix. 1 1 . 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light 
unto my path. Ps., cxix. 105. 



" ' My simple and ignorant thoughts are all 
confused when I try to think of the ages since 
its first chapters were written. How many 
little children have learned to repeat the 
beautiful parables and and the sweet Psalms 
of David ! How many poor, lonely prison- 
ers, and sick and suffering people have com- 
forted themselves with the precious promises 




a wonderful book the Bible is ! 



THINKING ALOUD. 



17 



in the Bible! How sweet the words of 
Jesus have been to all those who have 
loved him ! 

This Holy Book is able to make us wise 
unto salvation, for it shows us the path of 
life, and leads us to the precious Saviour, 
who is able and willing to save us. No 
captain, though he were ever so wise, would 
go to sea without his compass : and I know 
that I shall never guide myself aright if I 
neglect to inquire which way God's wisdom 
and will direct me. I will study my Bible 
more than any other book. Why should I 
take such pains to study the books con- 
taining earthly knowledge, and give so much 
less attention to this gracious and holy 
Book? 

I should like to know what will become of 
our Bibles when this world is all passed 
away. Shall we never have them again ? It 
seems to me that it would be a great pleasure 
lost — or left behind. But God knows best 
what we shall need or enjoy in another 
world. One thing I will do ; I will be 
2* 



i8 



THINKING ALOUD. 



sure, if possible, to know all that is written 
in the precious Bible before I die. I know 
that I can understand but a small portion 
of it ; but, certainly, I will try to read and 
remember as much as I can of God's Holy 
Word. Blessed Spirit, help me to believe 
and to love my precious Bible ! 

" The Bible is my chart, 
By it the seas I know ; 
I cannot with it part — 
It rocks and sands doth show. 
It is my chart and compass too, 
Whose needle points forever true." 

Anon. 




THINKING ALOUD. 



10 



FIFTH DA T. 

Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 
Prov., xxvii. l. 

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat 
on the throne a book written within and on the 
back side ; sealed with seven seals. 

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a 
loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and 
to loose the seals thereof? 

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither 
under the earth, was able to open the book, 
neither to look thereon. 

And I v/ept much, because there was no man 
found worthy to open and to read the book, 
neither to look thereon. 

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep 
not : behold, the Lion of the tribe of juda, the 
Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, 
and to loose the seven seals thereof. 

And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the 
throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of 
the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, 



20 



THINKING ALOUD. 



having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the 
seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 

And he came and took the book out of the 
right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 
Rev., v. i--. 

T OFTEX wish that I knew how and where 
my life will be spent, and what God will 
permit to happen to me. I think, with tears 
in my eyes, of the time when I shall be left 
alone without my dear parents— for cer- 
tainly I should feel alone if they were gone, 
though I had ever so many other friends. 
When I see poor invalids confined with pain 
and weakness to their beds for years. I think 
to myself — perhaps my heavenly Father will 
find that I need such suffering to make me 
obedient and humble, as he wishes me to be. 
But. there is no use of my thinking of all 
these things. Xo one can read the book 
of the future, and know or even guess what 
will come to pass. It is a sealed book, and 
we need not be surprised at any thing 
which happens. God knows everything 
which is before us in this world, and all the 



THINKING ALOUD, 



21 



events of our life will be just as he intended 
they should be. He orders all things for 
us by his son Jesus Christ, to whom he gave 
the book with the seren seals. No one 
could open the book but our dear Saviour, 
who is the Lamb of God slain for us. The 
winds and the sea obeyed him when he was 
upon the earth, and all power in heaven and 
earth is given unto him. He loves me, and 
died to save me, so that I may know that 
he will make all things work together for 
my good if I really love God. I will take 
every day's blessings and trials just as they 
come from Jesus' hands. He will order 
everything from hour to hour as I need. If 
I am in any trouble, T ought to look into my 
heart, and think over my actions, and see if 
there is not some wicked way in me, to 
which Jesus wants to call my attention. 
When I am happy in the enjoyment of God's 
goodness, 1 ought to remember why he shows 
such mercy to me. Dear Jesus, I owe all my 
blessings to thee. Grant that I may be 
always under thy gracious care ! Amen. 



2 2 



THINKING ALOUD. 



SIXTH DA T. 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is 
given : and the government shall be upon his 
shoulders : and his name shall be called Wonder- 
ful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Ever- 
lasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Is., ix. 6. 

And when they were departed, behold, the angel 
of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, 
Arise, and take the young child and his mother, 
and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I 
bring thee word : for Herod will seek the young 
child to destroy him. Mat., ii. 13. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 
was with God, and the Word was God. John, i. 1. 

And let all the angels of God worship - him. 
Heb., i. 6. 

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sin- 
ners. 1 Tim., i. 15. 

T READ in the Bible that the holy Son of 
God became a child like me, and lived 
upon the earth. He came down from heaven, 



THINKING ALOUD. 



where he had always been with God from 
eternity. He was God. and the blessed 
angels and the holy spirits loved and wor- 
shipped him, and rejoiced to do his will. 
Why did he leave those holy beings and 
that happy place ? Why did he come to 
this sinful world, and lie in the arms of 
Mary — a helpless babe ? It is a wonderful 
thing to think of ! Our earth seems so very 
far off from heaven, and we are all so unholy 
and miserable that it is very wonderful to 
me that the Saviour should come himself to 
live among us. If he had sent a beautiful 
angel to do us good, and to teach us how to 
please him, I should have thought that even 
such kindness was wonderful love. But he 
preferred to come himself, and be a little 
child, dependent upon Joseph and Mary for 
care and support. I suppose that he worked 
with his own hands with Joseph in his hum- 
ble home. It does not surprise me that the 
angels desire to look into these things. The 
Bible says they do : and they sing louder 
and sweeter songs of praise to Jesus than 



2 4 



THINKING ALOUD. 



we can, because they saw him in his glory 
before he left the skies to take upon him our 
nature. In one war they cannot love him, 
for he is not their Saviour. I will praise 
him because he lived and died for me. 

Hark ! hark ! the notes of joy 

Roll o'er the heavenly plains, 
And seraphs find employ 

For their sublirnest strains ; 
Some new delight in heaven is known ; 
Loud sound the harps around the throne. 

Hark ! hark ! the sound draws nigh, 

The joyful hosts descend ; 
Jesus forsakes the sky, 

To earth his footsteps bend ; 
He comes to bless our fallen race ; 
He comes with messages of grace. 

Bear— bear the tidings round ; 

Let every mortal know 
"What love in God is found, 

TThat pity he can show ; 
Ye winds that blow ! ye waves that roll ! 
Bear the glad news from pole to pole. 

Aroh. 



THINKING ALOUD. 



SEVENTH DA Y. 

The waters of Shiloah, that go softly. Is., viii. 6. 

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which 
was blind from his birth. 

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, 
who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was 
born blind ? 

Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, 
nor his parents ; but that the works of God should 
be made manifest in him. 

I must work the works of him that sent me, 
while it is day ; the night cometh, when no man 
can work. 

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of 
the world. 

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the 
ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he 
anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay : 

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of 
Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent). He 
went his way therefore, and washed, and cams 
seeing. John ix., 1-8. 

3 



20 



TIIIXKIXG ALOUD. 



fpHE little brook Shiloah flowed softly 
and gently near the great and beautiful 
city of Jerusalem ; its cool, clear water fill- 
ed the pool of Siloam on the side of Mount 
Sion where the splendid temple stood. This 
was the pool in which the Saviour command- 
ed the blind man to wash, that he might re- 
ceive his sight. He bathed in waters which 
were led through channels cut in the solid 
rock underneath the holy city. God used this 
little bright and sparkling brook to give 
comfort and pleasure to all who went to the 
pool for refreshment. But the poor blind 
man must have been the happiest person 
who ever stepped out of that clear and 
healing water ! He knew that it was the 
Lord who had opened his eyes, by a gracious 
miracle, and that the water itself could not 
have cured his blindness. Yet he must 
have loved often to visit that pool after- 
wards, and to remember the delight with 
which he first looked upon the beautiful 
world around him. Perhaps he used to go 
out of the city, and follow the little brook, 



THINKING ALOUD. 



2J 



as it wound around the hills. What loving 
thoughts of Jesus must have filled his 
heart ! 

Ma) r I not try to imitate even a brook, 
which makes itself a blessing to every one ? 
A little child cannot do all that a grown 
person can, any more than the pretty brooks 
can be like great rivers, carrying noble 
ships, and watering whole continents. But 
still, the dear little brooks would be missed, 
by old and young, for they flow softly along, 
raising the heads of wild flowers, and pro- 
viding refreshment and pleasure for weary 
travelers and happy children. It is the 
love and sincerity we show, which makes 
our efforts to do good acceptable to others. 
If I wait till I can do some great thing, I'm 
afraid that I shall never do anything at all. 
0 God, please to give me a willing heart, 
and show me at all times and in every 
place, the ways in which I can do good, and 
the little acts of love and kindness, which 
thou wilt help me to perform. Amen. 



THINKING ALOUD. 



"0 what can little hands do 

To please the King of heaven ? 
The little hands some work may try- 
To help the poor in misery ; — 
Such grace to mine be given. 

" Oh what can little lips do 

To please the King of heaven ? 
The little lips can praise and pray, 
And gentle words of kindness say ; — 
Such grace to mine be given. 

" 0 what can little eyes do 

To please the King of heaven ? 
The little eyes can upward look, 
Can learn to read God's Holy Book ; — 
Such grace to mine be given. 

" 0 what can little hearts do 

To please the King of heaven ? 
Young hearts if God His Spirit send, 
Can love and trust their Saviour, Friend ; — 
Such grace to mine be given. 

" Though small is all that we can do 
To please the King of heaven, 
When hearts, and hands, and lips unite, 
To serve the Saviour with delight, 
They are most precious in His sight ; 
Such grace to mine be given." angist. 



THINKING ALOUD. 



29 



EIGHTH HAY. 

Not by works of righteousness which we have 
done, but according to his mercy he saved us. 
Titus, iii. 5. 

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and 
yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 
James, ii. 10. 

God hath given to us eternal life, and this life 
is in his son. 1 John, v. 1 1. 

Even as the Son of man came not to be minis- 
tered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a 
ransom for many. Mat., xx. 28. 

T AM not told in God's Word, to do good 
works, that I may become righteous in 
his sight ! It would be very foolish and 
sinful for me to think that I could obtain 
the favor of the Great and Holy God, by 
even my best efforts to live a holy life. It 
would be foolish in me to think so, because 
it would show how little I know what that 
holiness is which God's law requires of us ; 
3* 



30 THINKING ALOUD. 

and it would be wicked, because God has 
said that all our righteousness is as filthy 
rags, and that he will not permit us to come 
into his presence, unless we are covered 
with the robe of righteousness which Jesus 
wrought. 

But, is the work all finished, and have I 
nothing to do but to enjoy God's blessings 
to me in this world, and to enter heaven 
when I die ? 1 have found this verse, " God 
hath given to us eternal life," — he gave it 
to us long ago, when Jesus lived and died 
to obtain it for us ! He does not say that he 
will give it to us, if we bring to him a suf- 
ficient number of good works. Certainly he 
knew that we should never obtain eternal 
happiness through any merit of our own ; 
and all that I can do is to accept the gift 
of life through Jesus Christ his Son. 

I need not be searching for a treasure to 
pay my ransom with, for Jesus paid it long 
ago, with the price of his own precious blood. 
I need not try to pay it over again, with 
any works that I can do ! Still I know 



THIN KIN a ALOUD. 



3 l 



that God commands us to be holy ; and that 
he is pleased with our efforts to serve him. 
It is not wrong for me to tell him how I 
have tried to obey his commandments, and to 
fight against my sins. He will graciously 
accept my obedience, while I trust alone in 
the merits of Jesus for his favor. My 
feeble attempts to please him, will be like 
fragrant flowers in his sight, though I may 
never be able to bring him any perfect fruit, 
to show my success in doing good works. 

0 God, help me to understand how to 
bring unto thee the righteousness of Christ 
by faith — for " without faith, it is impossi- 
ble" to please thee. Amen. 



3 2 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



NINTH DA Y. 

Can any hide himself in secret places that I 
shall not see him ? saith the Lord. Jer., xadii. 24. 

And they heard the voice of the Lord God 
walking in the garden in the cool of the day : 
and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the 
presence of the Lord God, amongst the trees of 
the garden. Gen., iii. 8. 

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, 
and art acquainted with all my ways. Ps. 
cxxxix. 1 1 . 

The Lord is at hand. Phil., iv. 5. 

The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear 
him, in those that hope in his mercy. Ps. 
cxlvii. 1 1 . 

For God hath power to help. 2 Chron., xxv. 8. 

And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may 
be gracious unto you. 

He will be very gracious unto thee at the 
voice of thy cry ; when he shall hear it he will 
answer thee. Is., xxx. 18, 19. 



THINKING ALOUD. 



53 



HY should any one wish to flee from 



* " God's presence ? It would be like 
wishing to get away from our best friend ! 
Adam and Eve hid themselves among the 
trees of the garden, and dreaded to meet 
the Lord again, because they felt so ashamed 
and afraid after their disobedience. If it 
were not for our own sinful desires, I think 
we should rejoice to know that our heavenly 
Father is always near us. 

Certainly it is God's love that leads him 
to attend us so constantly and mercifully. 
He does not act towards us as if he thought 
that our safety and happiness were of no 
consequence ! When I think of his presence 
with me at all times, I will remember also 
his precious promises to those who depend 
upon him for all they wish or need. Does 
not God say that he waits to be gracious to 
us? In his infinite compassion he comes 
near to us, and bends his ear to listen to our 
prayers. He is always ready to stretch out 
his hand to help us when we are in danger, 
just as the Lord reached forth his arm to 




34 



THINKING ALOUD. 



save Peter from sinking in the water. I 
am glad to know that I can never go out of 
his sight ; that he is forever by my side to 
know my condition. I do not believe that 
he stands by us always to watch for our 
faults and our sins, that he may write them 
down in his book, or punish us as we de- 
serve ! It is much pleasanter to think that 
he follows us to guide and help us, and that 
he has precious gifts in his hands for us, if 
we will only ask him to bestow upon us 
these good things. 

Oh yes ; it is sweet to think of God's 
power and love, while we remember that he 
is always near us ! He can do for us all 
that we need ; and if I look to him to keep 
me in the right way he will hear my prayer. 
It will please him to have me depend upon 
his love. 




THINKWO ALOUD. 



35 



TENTH DA Y. 

A lively hope, i Pet., i. 3. 

The hope of eternal life. Titus, iii. 7. 

How then shall they call on him in whom they 
have not believed ? and how shall they believe in 
him of whom they have not heard ? and how 
shall they hear without a preacher ? Rom., x. 14. 

Having no hope, and without God in the 
world. Eph., ii. 12. 

T HAVE found in the Bible this expres- 
sion — " a lively hope f and one of my 
friends has told me that it means a hope of 
life. It seems to me to contain a great deal 
that is precious to think of, in a few words. 
I know that it does not mean a hope of life 
in this world, though I am sure that if I 
was in any danger, and expected to die, and 
a hope of life were given to me, I should be 
very grateful and happy. It means the hope 
of everlasting life, which God has given 
us— the hope that we have through Jesus 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



that our souls shall live with God in heaven, 
after our lives in this world are over. 

If it were not for the Bible and the pre- 
cious Saviour, we should know nothing of 
the future. We should be like the poor 
heathen, who have no knowledge of God 
and heaven. How sad it is to think of the 
thousands of wretched and ignorant people 
who live in lands where the Gospel is never 
preached ! Of course they cannot worship or 
love a being about whom they know nothing. 
They have no Bible to tell them of the life 
of the soul ; and they have only a little 
light in their own hearts, by which to see 
the difference between what is right and 
wrong ! Oh, I should like to tell them how 
the Saviour was crucified for us ! I should 
like to tell them about the beautiful place 
we call heaven, where we hope to see Jesus, 
and live forever with those who love him ! 
"When I am older, perhaps God will want 
me to go into some heathen country, and 
be a missionary to those who have no 
u hope of life !" 



THINKING ALOUD. 



37 



Am I not like the blind man, whose eyes 
were opened to see Jesus ; and shall I not 
do all I can to have others see and love him 
too ? I need not wait till I am grown, to 
be a missionary, for we are all missionaries 
so long as we are in this world. We are 
all sent into the world to do something, and 
a missionary only means " one who is sent." 
God has sent me into the world, and I must 
be his missionary — to do his work. 

God is the Creator and Father of all the 
many millions of people upon the earth. 
We are all made in his image, and our souls 
are just alike in his sight. Why has he put 
such a difference between me and the poor 
heathen ? When I remember all his mer- 
cies to me, and all my advantages, I am 
ashamed to think how little I love him. 
I will offer to God the prayer that Paul 
did — " Lord, what wilt thou have me to 
do?" 

4 



3 8 THINKING ALOUD. 



ELEVENTH DA T. 

For the Son of Man is come to seek and save 
that which was lost. Luke, xix. 10. 

And he spake this parable unto them saying, 
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if 
he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety 
and nine in the wilderness, and go after that 
which is lost, until he find it ? 

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his 
shoulders, rejoicing. 

And when he cometh home, he calleth together 
his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, 
Rejoice with me ; for I have found my sheep 
which was lost. 

I say unto you, That likewise joy shall be in 
heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than 
over ninety and nine just persons which need no 
repentance. 

Either what woman, having ten pieces of silver, 
if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and 
sweep the house, and seek diligently till she 
find it } 



THINKING ALO UD. 



39 



And when she hath found it, she calleth her 
friends and her neighbors together, saying, Re- 
joice with me ; for I have found the piece which I 
had lost. 

Likewise, I say unto you, There is joy in the 
presence of the angels of God over one sinner that 
repenteth. Luke, xv. 3-11. 

I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Ps. 
cxix. 176. 

T DO not remember that I was ever lost 
J- so that I could not find my way back to 
my home. And I can scarcely imagine how 
distressed and frightened I should be if I 
were far away from my father's house without 
any one to help me to return. It must be 
a dreadful thing to be lost And yet the 
Bible speaks of Jesus the Eedeemer as of 
one who came " to seek and to save the lost." 
Did he not come to save us all ? Who are 
" the lost ?" Does it not mean that we have 
wandered out of the way which leads to our 
heavenly home? It must be that Jesus 
means to tell us that God is our Father, and 
that we are like poor, lonely, disobedient 



4 o 



THINKING ALOUD. 



children, who have chosen to give up his 
love, and to try to find our happiness in sin- 
ful pleasures and among wicked companions. 
This is being lost from the way of holiness ; 
it is being far away from the dear Saviour's 
arms ; it is being lost amidst the sins and 
dangers to which Satan is ever trying to 
lead us. He does not wish to see us holy 
and happy, and therefore he tempts us to 
forget God, and to wander away from the 
safe and pleasant paths in which Jesus would 
have us walk. 

Surely I am one of the "lost" whom 
Jesus came to seek and save. But I think 
he is near me now, asking me let him guide 
me and to let him teach me. I do not wish 
to live away from him — separated from him 
by my sins. I will tell him that I am lost, 
and that I trust in him to lead me back to 
my heavenly Father's love, because he came 
to seek and save the lost. 



THINKING- ALOUD. 



TWELFTH DA T. 

And when he had spoken these things, while 
they beheld, he was taken up ; and a cloud re- 
ceived him out of their sight. 

And, while they looked steadfastly toward 
heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by 
them in white apparel. 

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand 
ye gazing up into heaven ? this same Jesus, which 
is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come 
in like manner as ye have seen him go into 
heaven. Acts, i. 9, 10, 11. 

T AM surprised that the two men in white 
■A apparel should have asked the disciples 
why they stood gazing up into heaven ! 
Had not the dear Saviour just gone up into 
the clouds? I do not wonder that they 
stood looking up so steadfastly ! It must 
have broken their hearts with grief to have 
Jesus leave them so suddenly ! And then 
thev understood so little about heaven and 
4* 



4 2 



THINKING ALOUD. 



about what Jesus could do for them there ! 
They knew very well that here in this 
wicked world the enemies of the Lord 
would try to persecute and kill them. 
How discouraging and alarming it must 
have been to them to be left alone without 
the protection of their glorious and precious 
Master. Perhaps Jesus thought that this 
feeling of loneliness and fear would lead 
them to pray unto him. and to tell him all 
their troubles. He wanted. I suppose, to 
teach them to live by faith upon his love 
and strength. When they saw him right 
by their side it was easy to depend upon 
him. because he did such wonderful things 
to show them his power and willingness to 
protect and to bless those who trusted in 
him. And often he had let them know 
that he could read their thoughts and see 
just what they needed without being near to 
them, so that they could see him. I am 
sure that they ought to have known that he 
could be their friend and helper up in the 
skies the same as when he was with them 



THINKING ALOUD. 



43 



upon the earth ! But they were so astonished 
by his rising into the air and disappearing 
from their sight, that they could not think 
of these things. No doubt, many things 
which Jesus had said were brought to their 
remembrance after the Holy Spirit came 
down, which Jesus had promised to send 
into their hearts. But the two men com- 
forted them by telling them that the same 
dear Saviour they loved should come again 
in the clouds from heaven to take them to 
be with liim for ever. Shall I see this 
glorious sight ? Oh ! that I may live in the 
presence of Jesus now by faith, so that I 
may not be terrified when I see him coming 
again with all the holy angels through the 
skies. 



THINKING ALOUD. 



THIRTEENTH DA T. 

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of 
Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, 
there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 

Saying, where is he that is born King of the 
Jews r for we have seen his star in the east, and 
are come to worship him. 

When Herod the King had heard these things, 
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 

And when he had gathered all the chief priests 
and scribes of the people together, he demanded 
of them where Christ should be born. 

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea : 
for thus it is written by the prophet, 

And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, 
art not the least among the princes of Juda : for 
out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule 
my people Israel. 

Then Herod, when he had privily called 
the wise men, inquired of them diligently what 
time the star appeared. 

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, 



THINKING ALOUD, 



+5 



Go and search diligently for the young child ; 
and when ye have found him, bring me word 
again, that I may come and worship him also. 

When they had heard the king, they departed ; 
and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went 
before them, till it came and stood over where the 
young child was. 

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with ex- 
ceeding great joy. 

And when they w r ere come into the house, they 
saw the young child with Mary his mother, and 
fell down and worshipped him : and when they 
had opened their treasures, they presented unto 
him gifts ; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 
Matt. ii. i— ii. 

rjIHE wise men from the east were very 
curious to see the holy babe which was 
born King of the Jews. They followed the 
star which God put in the heavens to guide 
them to the place where Jesus was ; and 
when they came to the stable in which the 
holy child was born they presented unto 
him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 
I cannot help wondering what Mary did 



46 



THINKING ALOUD, 



with all these rich and beautiful things 
which the wise men gave to the little babe. 
But. I know that God had shown to these 
great men that this little child was his Son, 
and that he was the Messiah whom they had 
so long expected. They knew that they 
ought to bow down and worship him. It 
was the custom in their country to carry 
precious gifts to their earthly King, and so 
they tried to please the Lord by offering to 
him these valuable presents as a proof of 
their adoration and joy. They rejoiced 
because they were allowed to see and wel- 
come the promised Saviour. 

Would it not be pleasant to take some 
little gift to the Lord, and ask him to let it 
remind him of our love? Yes, I think it 
would. But he does not need anything 
that we can bring him ! There is only one 
thing which he asks us to give to him. He 
does say, ,,; Give me thy heart. " Oh ! how 
can I offer him such an unholy and sinful 
thing? Yet, I will ask him to take my 
heart at once, for I know that he wants me 



TEIXKIXG ALOUD. 



47 



to give it to him that he may wash it and 
make it holy. Dear Jesus, I have nothing 
else to bring thee but my poor, sinful heart ; 
please to accept it. 

Jesus, who on Calvary's mountain 
Poured thy precious blood for me, 

"Wash me in its flowing fountain, 
That my soul may spotless be. 

I have sinned, but oh, restore me ; 

For unless thou smile on me, 
Dark is all the world before me, 

Darker yet eternity ! 

In thy word I hear thee saving, 
Come and I will give you rest ; 

And the gracious call obeying, 
See, I hasten to thy breast. 

Grant, oh, grant, thy Spirit's teaching 

That I may not go astray, 
Till the gate of heaven reaching, 

Earth and sin are passed away. 

Anon. 



48 THIXKLXG ALOUD. 



FO URTEENTH LA Y. 

For one star differeth from another star in 
glory, i Cor., xv. 41. 

Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ. 
1 Cor., xi. 1. 

Fear not, neither be discouraged. Deut., i. 21. 

For I have given you an example. John, xiii. 15. 

Ye are our epistles written in our hearts, known 
and read of all men. 2 Cor., iii. 2. 

T MIGHT spend whole days trying to find 
two leaves exactly alike, and I should 
not succeed ! I might listen for hours in a 
forest to hear the same song from two dif- 
ferent birds, and I should not hear it ! It 
would be impossible even for me to find 
two birds with the same plumage ! Each 
landscape is different from every other, and 
no two human faces are just alike. God 
has given us a great deal of pleasure in just 
the variety in things around us ! It is a 
comfort to me to think that God intended 



THINKING ALOUD. 



49 



to have all this difference in the same kind 
of things. Sometimes when I read the 
memoirs of good children I think that God 
would be better satisfied w T ith me if I were 
like them, and then it comforts me to think 
about the birds and the leaves and the 
different flowers. The roses and the lilies 
are very different, yet God made them both, 
and they please him, I think, all the more 
because they are not alike. When I read 
the lives and history of those who have 
loved Jesus, I will try to imitate them so 
far as they pleased the Lord ; but I will 
not be discouraged because I cannot be 
exactly like them, nor do exactly the same 
things. 

I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me to 
study the life and example of Jesus, who 
became a child, and grew up to be a man 
that we might have a perfect pattern by 
which we should live. We have in the 
Bible a description of him, in order that we 
may try to imitate him in all that we can. 
The books and letters in the Bible teaching 
5 



5° 



THINKING ALOUD. 



us the character of onr dear Saviour are 
very precious. They were written by men 
who died long ago. and I roust remember 
that it is my duty to be a living letter, which 
may be known and read by all men. just as 
they would read the character of Jesus in 
one of those old and precious letters written 
so long ago. I must try to show in my 
own life what Jesus wishes us to be. Oh, 
God. help me to grow more and more like 
Jesus, and give me grace to follow his 
example. Amen. 

Behold, where, in a mortal form 

Appears each grace divine ; 
The virtues, all in Jesus met. 

With mildest radiance shine. 

Be Christ our pattern arid our guide: 

His image may we bear ; 
O, may we tread his holy steps, 

His joy and glory share ! 

ENFIELD, 



THIXKIXQ ALOUD. 



FIFTEENTH DAY. 

The answer of a good conscience toward God. 
l Pet., iii. 21. 

A pure conscience, l Tim., iii. 3-9. 

An evil conscience. Heb., x. 22. 

Having their conscience seared with a hot iron. 
I Tim., iv. 2. 

Convicted by their own conscience. John, 
viii. 9. 

Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not 
what is right ? Luke, xii. 57. 

And thou shalt do that which is right and good 
in the sight of the Lord. Deut., vi. 18. 

To seek of him a right way for us. Ezra, viii. 2 1 . 

A still small voice. 1 Kings, xix. 12. 

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away 
the sins of the world. John, i. 29.. 

Cast thy burden upon the Lord. Ps., lv. 22. 

C\ OD has given to each of us a conscience, to 
^ help us to decide whether our thoughts 
and wishes are right or wrong. There is 



5 2 



THINKING ALOUD. 



something within us which seems to talk 
with us and try to influence us to do right. 
It is surely God's voice in our hearts, and it 
must be very dangerous and wicked for me 
to disregard it. We have the holy rules by 
which we are to govern our conduct, writ- 
ten very plainly in the Bible ; and. besides 
this written law, when we wish to do any- 
thing, our consciences judge whether it 
will please God or not. What if the judge 
within us should not decide correctly about 
our actions, or should not speak to us at all ; 
when we are very much tempted to sin. is 
there not danger that we shall not hear 
God's still small voice in our hearts ? How 
dreadful it would be if we were left to our 
own choice and will : we could never get 
away from temptations, and there would be 
nothing within us to help us to resist the 
sinful desires which would soon destroy our 
souls. 

And every time I commit a sin, they say 
it makes the voice of God feebler and faint- 
er within me : Oh ! God let me never try to 



TEIXKIXG ALOUD. 



53 



silence ray conscience ! Let me not wick- 
edly persist in my wrong doings ! Put into 
my heart a fear of thine anger and of thy 
judgments, and keep my conscience awake 
to warn me instantly of the approach of the 
tempter. Make me afraid of even the 
smallest sins — for I know that thou hatest 
all sin. 

Will my conscience remind me of those 
duties I have neglected to do ; will it help 
me to repent of my sins of omission ? Yes, 
I am told that God will educate and enlight- 
en this conscience which speaks for him in 
my heart, so that it will reprove me for 
neglecting to perform my duty. The Holy 
Spirit is the keeper and instructor of my 
inward judge ; he can make my conscience 
sensitive, and tender, and faithful, and honest. 
I will pray for such a conscience. 

But oh ! who can take the burden of my 
sins away ? Who can bear to think of all 
the wrong acts of his life ? My conscience 
will keep me unhappy all the time, if I let it 
show me all my faults ! The sinfulness of 
5* 



54 



THINKING ALOUD. 



my heart is very painful to me! Dear 
Jesus ! I bring all my burden to thee ; 
please to open the windows of my dark and 
sinful soul and let me look out to the sun- 
shine of thy love. Amen. 

There is a little lonely fold, 

Whose flock one Shepherd keeps, 

Through summer's heat and winter's cold, 
With eye that never sleeps. 

By evil beast, or burning sky, 

Or damp of midnight air, 
Not one in all that flock shall die 

Beneath that shepherd's care. 

For if, unheeding or beguiled, 

In danger's path they roam, 
His pity follows through the wild, 

And guards them safely home. 

Oh, gentle Shepherd, still behold 

Thy helpless charge in me ; 
And take a wanderer to thy fold, 

That trembling turns to thee ! 

Litchfield's Coll. 



THINKING ALOUD. 



55 



SIXTEENTH DA Y. 

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing 
it is for the eyes to behold the sun. Ec., xi. 7. 

As for these four children, God gave them 
knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. 
Dan., i. 17. 

But the path of the just is as the shining light, 
that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 

The way of the wicked is as darkness, they know 
not at what they stumble. Prov., iv. 18, 19. 

1 am come a light into the world, that whoso- 
ever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 
John, xii. 46. 

Let your light so shine among men, that they 
may see your good works, and glorify your Father 
which is in heaven. Mat., v. 16. 

T DO not like to sit in a dark room, or to 
^ walk where I have no light. It is very 
unpleasant, and I am afraid of stumbling in 
the darkness. If I'm sleeping I do not need 
or wish the light, but when I am awake I 



THINKING ALOUD. 



enjoy the sunshine ; and I think that G-od 
made my eyes so that the light should be 
sweet and pleasant to me. I could not en- 
joy the beautiful things which God has made, 
if it w r ere always dark around me : and I 
could never see the faces of my friends ! 
Oh ! God, I thank thee for the bright and 
cheerful light ! 

But, there is another kind of light besides 
that which shines from the sun and the moon 
and the stars. There is light for our minds 
as well as for our eyes — knowledge is 
called light. How very little of this kind 
of light there is in my mind ! Still I will 
not be discouraged, for I know that the sun 
gradually drives away the darkness in the 
morning till it is perfectly light. The more 
I study and observe things around me. the 
more light of knowledge I shall have ; and 
my mind will grow stronger as I grow older. 
I will pray for God's blessing on my mind, 
that I may learn that which is useful and 
know the difference between good and evil. 

And there is still another kind of light, 



THINKING ALOUD. 



for Jesus says, " I am the light of the world ; 
he that followeth me shall not walk in dark- 
ness, but shall have the light of life." This 
is the light I need the most ! If I believe 
in Jesus and love him, then the light of 
God's grace has begun to shine in my heart 
and it will increase more and more, till I am 
made holy and happy in the light of my heav- 
enly Father's love and smile. This glorious 
light which Jesus gives does indeed " shine 
in a dark place," and the beginning of a 
holy life, the Bible calls the rising of a " day- 
star" in our hearts. 

Dear Jesus, come, I pray thee, and bring 
thy light into my soul, that I may love thee 
more, and please thee better. Amen. 



58 



THINKING ALOUD. 



SEVENTEENTH DAY. 

I have finished the work which thou gavest me 
to do. John, xvii. 4. 

Boast not thyself of to-morrow ; for thou 
knowest not what a day may bring forth. Prov., 
xxvii. 1. 

Therefore are they before the throne of God, 
and serve him day and night in his temple. Rev., 
vii. 15. 

I will help thee. Is., xli. 10. 

I HATE made up my mind that God will 
not be pleased if I do nothing but play. 
There certainly is some kind of work which 
lie expects me to do. and I must try and find 
out what it is. and begin to do it ; for no 
one else can do my work, and if I neglect 
to do it. it will surely be left undone. Shall 
all the rest of the world be busy and I be 
idle ? Xo : I should be ashamed to leave 
this earth and go up to my heavenly Father 
without finishing the work which he gave 
me to do. 



THINKING ALOUD. 



59 



"What can a child like me do ? Certainly 
most of my work must be clone at home, by 
my dear mother's side, and among my 
brothers and sisters ! I shall have to be 
constantly watching to see what my duty is. 
for it is only little things which I can do, 
and if I am careless I shall not notice them, 
and then my work will not be done. 

I must not put off till to-morrow what I 
ought to do to-day, for to-morrow I shall 
have no time to spare. There will be some- 
thing for me to do to-morrow which I did 
not see or think of to-day. and I cannot 
take the time for my neglected work. 

But I cannot work all the time ! It tires 
me whenever I try to see how much I can 
do ! Besides. I like to play ; and mother 
tells me that God likes to have me enjoy 
myself with my friends, and that playing 
will help me to work all the better. How 
sweet it is to think that Jesus watches us at 
our play ! I will try not to play any thing 
that would displease or offend him. It 
seems to me that play ought not to be called 



6o 



THINKING ALOUD. 



idleness ; because if it does me good, then 
it is a part of my work. There will never 
come a day which I may spend in idleness, 
and think that I have nothing to do. In 
heaven God will give to each of us holy 
work to do, and we shall have better 
powers with which to serve him. 

This I will remember — that my heavenly 
Father has not only given me my particular 
work, but he also offers to help me do it. 

Do thy best always — <lo it now— 

For in the present time, 
As in the furrows of a plow, 

Fall seeds of good or crime. 

The sun and rain will ripen fast 
Each seed that thou hast sown, 

And every act and word at last 
By its own fruit be known. 

And soon the harvest of thy toil, 

Rejoicing, thou shalt reap ; 
Or o'er thy wild neglected soil, 

Go forth in shame to weep. 

Jokes Very. 



THINKING ALOUD, 



6- 



EIGHTEENTH DA Y. 

Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be 
safe. Prov., xxix. 25. 

I will not fail thee nor forsake thee. Josh., i. 15, 

I will surely do thee good. Gen., xxxii. 1 2. 

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out 
of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them 
from the evil. John, xvii. 15. 

And we know that all things work together for 
good to them that love God. Rom., viii. 29. 

The hand of our God is upon all them for good 
that seek him ; but his power and his wrath is 
against all them that forsake him. Ezra, viii. 22, 

O AFE ! Yes ; I am perfectly safe in 
^ my heavenly Father's care ! He will 
not forget me ; he will not forget that I am 
weak and helpless to take care of myself : 
he will not forget to supply my wants, and 
to protect me from clanger ! In thee, dear 
heavenly Father, do I put my trust ; for I 
know that thou art willing a little child 
6 



62 



THINKING ALOUD. 



should trust in thee, and thou art able to do 
for me more than I can ask or think. 

If God is my friend, I need not fear any 
thing which shall happen. I will not be 
afraid of the evil which Jesus says is in the 
world ; nor of Satan, who tries to destroy 
my soul by tempting me to sin. I will be 
afraid of nothing, for God's power can de- 
liver me from everything which can harm 
or injure me. We are safe because we be- 
long to our faithful Saviour Jesus Christ ; 
and no enemy can pluck us from his hands. 
No one can take from us the blessings that 
God gives us, or hinder him from doing us 
good. God is a great King, and he will 
not suffer any one to take away the peace 
of those who serve him. 

But if I am outside of the heavenly fold, 
like a lost sheep lying out in the open field, 
I shall be exposed to every danger. God's 
protecting arm will not be around me here 
in this world, nor in the long eternity 
through which my soul must live. This is a 
dreadful thought — that God will not be my 



THINKING ALOUD. 



6 3 



friend nor my protector. If I hate sin and 
love holiness, and trust in Jesus to save my 
soul, then all things in God's great universe 
shall bring me happiness. But if I reject 
the Saviour's love, and go on in my sinful 
ways, then no sweet assurances of God's 
love shall bless me, but everything will be 
dark and sad, and bring me the punishment 
I deserve. 

Oh, God ! do not let me forget thy power 
to punish, as well as thy gracious power to 
do us good. Keep me, I beseech thee, under 
thy protecting wings forever ! Amen. 

Since, with pure and firm affection, 

Thou on God hast set thy love, 
With the wings of his protection 

He will shield thee from above ; 
Thou shalt call on him in trouble, 

He will hearken, he will save ; 
Here, for grief, reward thee double, 

Crown with life beyond the grave. 

Montgomery. 



6 4 



THINKING ALOUD. 



NINETEENTH DAY. 

Behold, happy is the man whom God cor- 
recteth. Job. v. 17. 

For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth ; even 
as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Prow, 
iii. 12. 

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten ; be 
zealous therefore, and repent. Rev., iii. 19. 

HEX the beautiful flowers are all faded, 
aud the leaves have fallen from the trees, 
and the earth is covered with snow, it seems as 
if God were angry with us and had taken 
away a great many pleasures and comforts 
from us ! We shiver in the cold, and every- 
thing looks dreary. But then, though we 
cannot see God's gentle hand working so 
silently beneath the snow and ice. we know 
that he is preparing for us the beauty of the 
Spring, and the blessings of the fruitful 
mouths. It seems as if God had put a cold and 
frozen band around our dear pleasant earth. 




THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



when really it is his kind and loving arm 
working wonders for us, about which we 
can know but very little. 

Well, sometimes my heart seems just like 
a garden from which all the birds have flown, 
and in which all the flowers have faded. I 
feel as if all that made me happy had been 
taken away. And because God. my Heav- 
enly Father, see.- it best to send me disap- 
pointments, or to let me suffer pain, I say to 
myself, God is making it all winter in my 
heart, and taking away the pleasant things 
I enjoyed. Oh ! how little I know of God's 
compassion ! How ready I am to complain ! 
Are we not told in the Bible that the way to 
heaven is narrow and straight — a way in 
which but few love to walk ? Why do I 
not oftener think of the end of this heavenly 
way ? 

When I am sick or in any trouble I ought 
not to think that God does not love me ; 
even though I can see that he is punishing 
me for my sins. Will he not be more like 
a father to those who wish to be his chil- 
6* 



66 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



dren, than to those who do not love him? 
And certainly if he loves us he will reprove 
our faults. He is very tender in his care 
of us ! He notices all our troubles and tri- 
als, and he stands beside us in the midst of 
all the things which so constantly disturb 
us. I'm sure he would rejoice to smooth the 
rough places in our journey to heaven if it 
were always for our good. But sometimes 
we need these unpleasant things to remind 
us that this beautiful earth is not our home, 
and that we must hasten on our heavenly 
way, without loving our pleasures here so 
much as to make us forget the life which 
is eternal. Thus God shows us, that his 
tenclerest compassion and love is for our 
souls, and if we are patient under his cor- 
rections, we shall be better prepared for the 
enjoyments of our heavenly home. 

Thy way, not mine, O Lord ! 

However dark it be ; 
Lead me by thine own hand, 

Choose out the path for me. 



THINKING AIOUD. 



Smooth let it be or rough, 

It will be still the best ; 
Winding or straight, it matters not, 

It leads me to thy rest. 

I dare not choose my lot, 

I would not, if I might ; 
Choose thou for me, my God, 

So shall I walk aright. 

Choose thou for me my Mends, 

My sickness or my health ; 
Choose thou my cares for me, 

My poverty or wealth. 

Take thou my cup, and it 

"With joy or sorrow fill, 
As best to thee may seem ; 

Choose thou my good and ill. 

Astok. 



68 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



TWENTIETH DAT. 

For what is your life ? It is even a vapor, that 
appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth 
away. James, iv. 14. 

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle. 
Job, vii. 6. 

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with 
thy might ; for there is no work, nor device, nor 
knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou 
goest. Ec., ix. 10. 

For the things which are seen are temporal ; but 
the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor., 
iv. 18. 

Another clay has gone ! I am one day 
nearer to the close of my earthly life 1 Who 
knows what shall happen before the sun 
rises again ? No one can tell what a day 
may bring forth. One thing is certain — our 
whole life, though it may seem long to us, is 
but a little day in God's sight ! And the 
night of death comes nearer and nearer as 
each day's sun goes down. 



TEIXKIXa ALOUD-, 



oo 



God will inquire at the end of this 
earthly day, what I have done. He does 
not expect us to be idle or to live for our- 
selves alone. There is something for me 
to do in each day as it passes, and in even- 
place where I am. The most important 
work I have to do is to prepare myself for 
death and heaven. My mind seems always 
filled with the thoughts and pleasures of 
this world ; I suppose it is because I am 
constantly in the midst of its scenes. How 
can I think as I ought of those things which 
are unseen ? It is just as if I were sitting 
at a window with a tree between me and 
the landscape beyond — I should see nothing 
but the tree, because it was so near me. Oh ! 
God, open the eyes of my mind to see the 
things of the next world just as they are ; and 
though the things of this world are 
near and close around, let me not forget the 
better life beyond this earthly one ! 

These bodies for which we do so much, 
will soon be carried by our friends to the 
quiet grave ! How many plans I make for 



JO 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



to-morrow and how little I think of what I 
shall do in eternity ! It is foolish and dan- 
gerous for me to live so forgetful of my 
eternal life. My dear parents are always 
telling me to learn now the things I shall 
need to know when I am grown. They say 
that I must prepare myself for my future 
life in this world now while I am a child. 
Does not God call our earthly life our child- 
hood ; and must I not prepare in time for 
eternity? If I expect to enjoy heaven, 
surely I must try to fit myself to associate 
with the holy beings who are there. 

"Wlien each day's scenes and labors close, 
And wearied nature seeks repose, 
With pardoning mercy richly blest, 
Guard me, my Saviour, while I rest ! - 
And as each morning sun shall rise, 
0 lead me onward to the skies ! 

And at my life's last setting sun, 
My conflicts o'er, my labors done, 
Jesus ! thy heavenly radiance shed, 
To cheer and bless my dying bed — 
And from death's gloom my spirit raise, 
To see thy face, and sing thy praise. 

Sir R. Grant. 



THIXA'IXG ALO UD. 



7i 



TWENTY-FIRST DA Y 

What would ye that I should do for you t 
Mark, x. 36. 

The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, 
to the soul that seeketh him. Lam., iii* 25. 

No good thing will He withhold from them that 
walk uprightly. Ps., Ixxxiw 11, 

The Lord giveth wisdom. Prov., 26. 

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temp- 
tation. Mat., xxvi. 41. 

He forgetteth not the cry of the humble, Ps., 
ix. 12. 

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do 
it. John, xiv. 14. 

And the Lord hath given me my petition which 
I asked of him. 1 Sam., i. 27. 

Before they call I will answer ; and while they 
are yet speaking I will hear. Is., Ixv. 24. 

TTOW many times have I written to my 
parents when I was absent from home, 
asking them to send me certain -things ! 



7 2 



THINKING ALOUD, 



How anxiously I waited for answers to my 
letters. And when they gratified my wishes, 
how glad and grateful I was ! How soon I 
returned my thanks to my dear, kind pa- 
rents. Oh, if I could only hare the same 
confidence in my heavenly Father's love and 
his willingness to hear and bless me! If I 
could only go directly to him and ask for 
the things which I need ! How delightful 
it would be to feel that God welcomes my 
prayer just as my parents delight to have 
me go to them with my requests ! 

Certainly God has said. " Ask and ve 
shall receive. 77 I will reverently carry this 
promise to him when I kneel to pray, and 
then I will not pretend to want blessings 
which I feel no real desire in my heart to 
have. I will, above all things, be sincere in 
God's holy presence. I will not mock him 
with a prayer for his Holy Spirit to keep 
me from sin, when I do not wish or intend 
to be holy. I will not offer before his glo- 
rious throne praises which do not rise with 
gratitude from my heart. I will not insult 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



the infinite God with a prayer which I do 
not remember even for a day. 

When my heavenly Father invites me to 
ask for what I need, I will go into his 
presence with humility, and offer unto him 
my petitions in the name of Jesus, who 
pleads for us before his Father's throne. 

I would be solemn and earnest while I 
talk with God ; but I will not be afraid to 
tell him that I love him, for he is willing to 
listen to the prayers and praises of the 
youngest and simplest. Does he not say, 
" Let me hear thy voice ?" 

Let me thank God that my sins cannot 
be too many or too great for his mercy to 
pardon. Therefore, I will confess my sins 
daily to him, and strive not to repeat the 
wickedness which offends him. I will also 
tell the Lord of all my temptations. My 
prayers shall be like my letters to my 
earthly parents. I will look for God's gra- 
cious answers, and I will rejoice to return 
my thanks for his goodness and love. 



T 



THIXK1XG ALOUD. 



Come, my soul, thy suit prepare, 
Jesus loves to answer prayer ; 
He himself has bid thee pray, 
Therefore will not say thee nay. 

Thou art coming to a King, 
Large petitions with thee bring ; 
For his grace and power are such, 
None can ever ask too much. 

With my burden I begin : 
Lord, remove this load of sin ! 
Let thy blood, for sinners spilt, 
Set my conscience free from guilt. 

While I am a pilgrim here, 

Let thy love my spirit cheer ; 

As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend, 

Lead me to my journey's end. 

Show me what I have to do, 
Every hour my strength renew ; 
Let me live a life of faith, 
Let me die thy people's death. 

Newton. 



THINKING ALOUD. 



TWENTY-SECOND DAY. 

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased ; 
and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 
Luke, xiv. i i . 

And those that walk in pride He is able to 
abase. Dan., iv. 37. 

Talk no more so exceeding proudly ; let not 
arrogancy come out of your mouth : for the Lord 
is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are 
weighed. 1 Sam., ii. 3. 

Choose the things that please me. Is., lxv. 4. 

And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold 
Joseph into Egypt. Acts, vii. 9, 

Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking 
one another, envying one another. Gal., v. 26. 

Let nothing be done through strife or vain- 
glory ; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem 
other better than themselves. Phil., ii. 3. 

T? YERY body praises the sun ! Grown 
people and children, and birds and ani- 
mals are glad and happy in the light and 



7 6 



THINKING ALOUD. 



■warmth which the glorious sun pours down 
upon every thing and every creature on the 
earth ! But who ever thought of the sun's 
being proud ? The flowers bloom in beauti- 
ful shapes and colors everywhere, and every 
body admires and loves them — but who ever 
called the flowers proud ? The dear little 
birds all day long sing the sweetest songs in 
our gardens and in the solemn forests — but 
did any one ever say that the birds were 
vain and proud ? Oh. no : the sun doesn't 
care whether we raise our eyes or not to 
look at his golden face. The flowers will 
.spring up in places where their beautiful 
leaves will never be seen. The happy birds 
will sing whether any one listens or not ! 
Neither the sun. nor the flowers, nor the 
birds are proud of what they are or of what 
they can do ! 

To be sure, pride is very wicked and very 
foolish ; but I cannot think that it is wrong 
for me to be glad when I please others, and 
see that they love me. It must be right for 
us to try to please others and to gain their 



TEIXEIXa ALOUD. 



77 



love. Yet I hare often been made unhappy 
by desiring too much the praise of my 
friends. I have been disappointed when 
they neglected to approve my looks and 
conduct. And besides all this foolishness, I 
am afraid I have sometimes been envious of 
the praise and admiration bestowed upon 
others. This certainly is wicked pride, and 
it must be one of the evil things which pro- 
ceed out of my heart. Oh God, please to 
take this unholy spirit away from me ! 

Do I not sometimes wish so much for the 
praise of others, and for their good opinion 
of me, that I pretend to be what I really 
am not ? How hateful this must be in the 
sight of God, who reads our hearts ! Dear 
heavenly Father, let thy grace in my heart be 
like the roots of a vine, which go down deep 
into the earth, so that there may be the 
real fruits of holiness in my daily life. 

Is it not wicked pride which makes us 
think that we are free from the faults others 
have? Are we not forbidden to compare 
ourselves with others at all ? It will be 
7* 



7 $ 



THINKING ALOUD. 



safest for me to study God's commands, and 
then I shall see what my character is, and I 
shall be able to know whether my conduct 
is such as to please him. I ought to pray 
and strive most of all to please God ! 

If I remember my many advantages, with 
all the instruction I have received, it will 
humble my pride to see how little pro- 
gress I have made, and how little there is 
to admire in me. I will try not to be proud, 
or dependent upon the praise of others. 
But yet I will offer to God my thanks for 
the love of my friends, and for the pleasure 
I have in trying to please them. 

" 'Tis being, and doing, 

And having, that make 
All the pleasures and pains 

Of which beings partake : 
To be what God pleases — 

To do a man's best ; 
And to have a good heart — • 

Is the way to be ble&tP 

Anon. 



THIXKIKG ALOUD. 



-9 



TWENTY-THIRD BAY. 

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, 

0 Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Ps., cxxxix. 4. 
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do 

good unto ail men. Gal., vi. 10. 

Honor all men. 1 Pet., ii. 17. 

And the King shall answer and say unto them, 
Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done 
it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye 
have done it unto me. Matt., xxv. 40. 

And this is his commandment, That we should 
believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and 
love one another, as he gave us commandment. 

1 John, iii. 23. 

T "WOXDER if there were any children in 
— Nazareth or Jerusalem who were rude or 
uncivil or disrespectful to Jesus : if there 
were any who were rough and noisy and 
ill-behaved in his presence. I cannot bear 
to think that any boy or girl would insult 
and grieve him by such impolite and vulgar 



8o 



THINKING ALOUD. 



conduct ! And now, while I am thinking 
about it, it seems to me that such behaviour 
towards any person must displease him 
just as much as if it were offered to him- 
self. Our unkind looks and rough voices 
must grieve him though he is so far away. 
Was not the expression upon his face always 
gentle, and gracious, and kind ? He was 
full of grace and kindness when he dwelt 
among men. His voice was mild and full 
of love, and it seems to me that no one 
could have looked up into his eyes without 
wanting to kneel down at his feet — to praise 
and worship him. And does he not say 
that a kindness shown to any of his friends 
is a kindness done to himself? Oh, will 
he not consider all our rude and disre- 
spectful conduct to others as offered to 
himself? 

We cannot love every body alike ! Did 
not the Lord appear to love John best, 
when he let him lean his head upon his bo- 
som, at the supper in the upper room. 
Surely he must be willing that we should 



THIX KINO- ALOUD. 



81 



have our particular friends. But certainly 
we ought to feel kindly towards every one, 
and to be glad to do them good as often as 
we have opportunity. If we were all 
really interested in each other's happiness, 
what a pleasant world it would be ! How 
glad we should be to see each other ; and 
how easily the cheerfulness and kindness of 
our hearts would be discovered in our words 
and tones ! 

When I feel ill-natured and selfish, I will 
try more than ever to put on a pleasant face, 
and to speak with a pleasant tone and man- 
ner ; for mother says if I strive to act po- 
litely and properly, it will help me iofeel 
kindly ; but that if I yield at all to impa- 
tience, or selfishness, or anger, I shall only 
increase the difficulty of overcoming the 
wrong feeling. 

Does it not show the wickedness of our 
hearts, when God has to command us to be 
respectful and kind ? How strange that we 
should have to be commanded to love each 
other ! 



iwexiy-fg ubih la t 



There is joy in the presence of the angels o: 
God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke, xv. 1 c 

O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdor 
and knowledge of God ! How unsearchable ar 
his judgments, and his ways past finding out 
Rom., xi. 33. 

For who maketh thee to differ from another 
1 Cor., iv. 7. 

What shall I render unto the Lord for all hi 
benefits toward me? Ps., ccxvi. 12. 

The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich; h 
bringeth low, and lifteth up. 1 Sam., ii. 8. 

Did not I weep for him that was in trouble 
Was not my soul grieved for the poor ? Jot 
xxx. 25. 

Blessed is he that considereth the poor; thi 
Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Ps. 
xlL 1. 

A S the angels look down from heaven npoi 
our round green earth, I suppose tha 
it appears a very little world to them 



THINKING ALOUD. 



85 



They could easily count all the members of 
God's great family who live here ! What 
feelings of surprise and wonder they must 
have as they look into our different homes ! 
How much darkness and ignorance and 
wretchedness they would see among the 
people in some parts of the world ! With 
what joy they would look into Christian 
homes, and listen to the hymns which the 
friends of Jesus sing ! How could they 
help wondering why* God put such a differ- 
ence between his earthly children ? Would 
they not long to make us feel the greatness 
of God's sovereign goodness to us ? Would 
they not like to tell us how he sits a glorious 
King upon his throne, giving gifts to those 
whom he selects to receive his bounty, and 
guiding and ordering all things in love and 
wisdom ? 

When they saw a little infant laid in the 
arms of loving parents, who were able to 
give it a warm and happy home ; when they 
saw its little soul committed to the care of 
a father and mother who would delight in 



8 4 



THINKING ALOUD. 



leading it to Jesus — would they not rejoice 
in the love and mercy of God ? And when 
they saw another dear little babe given to 
a heathen mother, or left in a poor and 
wretched home — would they not weep, 
though they know that God is wise and 
good in all that he does? I think his 
ways must be unsearchable and past finding 
out, even to angels ! 

Oh ! why has it pleased God to do so 
much for me? How can I praise him 
enough that he gave me such parents and 
such a cheerful and happy home ! How many 
poor children are without friends to provide 
them shelter, or food, or clothing ! It must 
be very hard to be poor ! May I never 
forget those to whom God has denied the 
blessings he has given to me ; let me try to 
think of them in their cheerless homes till 
I am ready to deny myself pleasures to do 
them good ! 

Surely God's kindness to me ought to 
make me willing and glad to return to him 
the most grateful obedience. He asks as to 



mmmm ALOUD. 



consider what great things he has clone for 
us, and I think he expects that his goodness 
to us will make us sorry for and ashamed 
of our sins. He commands us to think of 
his mercies and to fear him, and to serve 
liim in truth with all our hearts. 

Nightly, when the winds are low ; 
In the firelight's fading glow ; 
Ere npon my snowy bed 
I have laid my weary head, 
Angels seem to stoop and say, 
" Have you loved the Lord to-day ?" 

Holy angels ! come and be 
Dwellers in my home with me ! 
Make me gentle, tender, kind, 
Help me every hour to find 
Sweetest joy in duty done, 
Till, with you, my crown is won. 

E, D. Proctor. 

8 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



TWENTY-FIFTH DAY 

My son, give me thine heart. Prov., xxiii. 26. 

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is 
thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin. 
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man ; 
thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and 
reapest that thou didst not sow. Luke. xix. 20-21. 

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him 
shall be much required. Luke, xii. 48. 

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the 
God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect 
heart and with a willing mind ; for the Lord 
searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the 
imaginations of the thoughts ; if thou seek him, 
he will be found of thee ; but if thou forsake him, 
he will cast thee off forever. 1 Chron., xxviii. 9. 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a 
broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not 
despise. Ps., li. 17. 

TT would be very wicked for me to think 
that I am unable to do what God requires 



TH1XKISG ALOUD. 



*7 



of me ! It would be like that wicked ser- 
vant telling the Lord that he was an austere 
man, who expected to reap where he had 
sown no seed. I never like to read that 
verse ; it seems so wicked for any one to talk 
to our dear Saviour in that way ! The 
Lord is not harsh or severe with any of us ! 
He knows just what we are — for lie made 
us. He knows just what talents we have — 
for he gave them to us. And because God 
is our maker he has a perfect right to re- 
quire us to serve him. Does not God know 
us each by name? Does he not know our 
age and the amount of knowledge we have ? 
I will be ashamed of my wicked and unkind 
thoughts of God — for I know that he only 
requires me to follow the light I have. 

My soul is by nature full of sinful incli- 
nations, yet God my Heavenly Father, com- 
mands me to be holy. By nature I do not 
love God, but he says to me, Give me thy 
heart ; and oh, let me never complain or 
feel sorry that God wishes me to devote my 
life wholly to him. 



88 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



It is a comfort to read that God will 
accept our willing hearts, and remember in 
mercv all our circumstances ; but it is a 
solemn thought that to whom much is given 
from them much will be required. If he 
has given us a little knowledge I suppose 
that he will expect us to improve it — be- 
cause he will say that we might have under- 
stood what our duty was, if we had tried to 
learn his will. 

In many places in the Bible God offers to 
renew our corrupt hearts, and to assist us 
by the Holy Spirit. He teaches us to pray 
that the love of God may be shed abroad 
within us — so that we may rejoice to serve 
him. It is wrong for me to say that I 
cannot give my heart to God, when all I 
have to do is to ask him to break my hard 
heart and make me love him. May I never 
be guilty of resisting the Holy Spirit when 
he strives to make my heart warm with love 
to Jesus ! Let me be ashamed to ask how 
little I can do for Jesus and yet keep his 
precious love to me ! Surely he knows who 



THINKING ALOUD. 



89 



do all they can to please and serve him ! 
And he sees the tears of those who weep 
because they can do so little. 

Tender mercies on my way 

Falling softly like the dew, 
Sent me freshly every day, 

I will bless THE LORD for you. 

Though I have not all I would, 
Though to greater bliss I go, 

Every present gift of good 
To eternal love I owe. 

Source of all that comforts me, 
Well of joy for which I long, 

Let the song I sing to Thee 
Be an everlasting song. 

A. L. Waeikg. 



THINKING ALOUD. 



TWENTY-SIXTH DAY. 

There be many that say, Who will show us any 
good. Ps., iv. 6. 

At thy right hand there are pleasures forever 
more. Ps., xvi. x l. 

Trust in the Lord and do good. Ps., xxxvii. 3. 

Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. 
2 Tim., iii. 4. 

But they regard not the word of the Lord, 
neither consider the operation of his hands. Is., 
v. 1 2. 

C\ OD has given me a desire for pleasure. 
^ He cannot wish to see ray eyes full of 
tears, any more than my dear mother does ! 
I'm sure that he likes to see me bright and 
happy, like the little birds which sing among 
the trees and flowers, and like the little 
animals that play and frolic in the sunshine ! 

I wonder if there was no child in the 
house at Bethany, where Jesus loved to go 
so often. If there was, I do not believe that 



THIXKIXG ALOUD. 



9 l 



he wanted it to sit perfectly still all the time. 
He loved children better than any one else 
ever loved them ; and he knows how hard it 
is for us to play without disturbing others 
by our noise ! I wish that I could learn to 
play in just the right way, so that none 
would think me a troublesome child ! 

My dear mother seems very tired of my 
constant asking what I shall do and how I 
shall find amusement and pleasure. She 
says I ought not to be all the time seeking 
my own gratification — that it is loving my- 
self so much which makes me so restless, and 
that if I would try to do something for 
others I should find that my own happiness 
would increase. She says no one ever ob- 
tained happiness by only wishing for it, or 
even by working hard to make themselves 
happy. And besides, she says that some- 
times the things which give us pain, bring 
to us in the end the best happiness; and that 
wheu God permits us to be sick or sends us 
disappointments to bear — even these sad and 
uncomfortable hours will do us good, and 



9- 



THINKING ALOUD. 



procure for us a pleasure in trying to be 
patient and contented. 

My friends tell ine I shall find the most of 
my happiness in little things ; that if I am 
not careless and thoughtless I shall find the 
sweetest and most constant pleasure in God's 
little gifts. Now I will try and see if this 
is true. When the rain comes down from 
heaven. I will sit and watch it fall, and see 
what it does for the dusty leaves and thirsty 
plants. When the sun sets I will enjoy 
the glorious colors of the beautiful sky. I will 
watch the little twigs and branches, that I 
may welcome the first buds of spring ; and 
when the frost bites off the golden leaves, I 
will try to hear the solemn lessons which 
they teach when the wind makes them rustle 
on the ground. I know that those who love 
to watch God's wonderful works in nature, 
find a great deal of happiness ! But let me 
find my greatest pleasure in trying to imi- 
tate the blessed Saviour, who spent his life 
in doing good. 



THIXKIXG- ALOUD. 



93 



Who hears the cold and driving wind, 
Play round his -warm and happy home, 

And thinks not with a pitying heart, 
Of those who unprotected roam i 

Who rests upon his easy bed 

With blankets soft, and pillows white, 
Without a loving prayer to God 

For those who dread the dreary night ? 

"Who Jcnoirs the sovereign reason why 
Eh home with every joy is blessed ? 

Let grateful hearts with generous love, 
Relieve the needy and distressed 



G. W. H. 




9+ 



THINKING ALOUD. 



TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY. 

God is a spirit ; and they that worship him 
must worship him in spirit and in truth. John, 
iv. 24. 

For God, who commanded the light to shine 
out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give 
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God 
in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor., iv 6. 

O Lord, thou art our Father. Is., lxiv. 8. 

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all 
thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy 
might. Deut., vi. 5. 

TT is hard for me to think of God only as 
a spirit ! He seems then like a being far 
away from me, and I cannot feel certain and 
satisfied that he loves and remembers such a 
poor and humble creature as I am. And if 
I think of his glorious character, of his per- 
fect holiness and justice and of his great 
and terrible power — then I am afraid to 
speak to him from out my heart so full of 
sin. 



THINKING ALOUD. 



95 



God knew that we could not be satisfied 
with only the knowledge of himself as a 
spirit, and so he came near to us in a human 
form, and showed us his glory in the face of 
his Son Jesus Christ. As Moses covered his 
head with a vail, when he came down from 
the mountain, when God had talked with 
him, because the sinful people were afraid 
of his shining face — so God vailed his glory 
and spoke to us with the gentle voice of 
our Saviour, and walked among us in a hu- 
man form. How tenderly the great God 
remembers our weakness and our fears ! 

When I hear and know that God is a 
Father, I feel happy in the thought that he 
is very near to me ! When I remember 
that it is from his love that I receive every 
gift, I rejoice that he can see me every 
moment ; I feel like stretching out my hands 
towards him, just as little babies hold out 
their arms to go to their mothers. How 
can we help wishing to go to a friend who 
shows us such love and kindness ? God is 
the giver of all my blessings ; though I am 



9 6 



TRIXKIXG ALOUD. 



so young and so unworthy, he seems never to 
forget that I need his care and protection. 
How strange and wicked it would be if I 
did not love him best— if I did riot love him 
even better than I do my earthly parents and 
friends ! 

Purely no one ever has been, or can be, so 
good to me as my heavenly Father : and 
there is no one beside God whom I ought to 
love with all my heart, and soul, and mind, 
and strength. The glorious God commands 
me to love him supremely, because he has 
made my soul capable of loving that which 
is holy and good ; and certainly when I 
know that he is the holiest and the best, I 
ought to love him most of all. 

Oh, Holy Spirit, change my unholy heart, 
that it may love that which is holy ; help me 
to think of all God's mercies to me, and 
grant that I may give my whole heart to my 
Heavenly Father, who alone is worthy of 
our best love, Amen, 



THIKKIXa ALOUD. 



97 



TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY. 

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, 
and all the holy angels with him, then shall he 
sit upon the throne of his glory : 

And before him shall be gathered all nations ; 
and he shall separate them one from another, as a 
shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. 

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, 
but the goats on the left. 

Then shall the King say unto them on his right 
hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the 
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of 
the world. Matt., xxv. 31-34. 

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be 
spiritually minded is life and peace. Rom., viii. 6. 

And Enoch walked with God. Gen., v, 24. 

And Noah walked with God. Gen., vi. 9. 

TX the beginning when God made the world 
J- he divided the light from the darkness ; 
and in the end of the world all nations shall 
be gathered before him, and he shall sepa- 
rate them one from another as a shepherd 
9 



9 8 



THINKING ALOUD. 



divideth his sheep from the goats. God 
will put each of us just where we belong, 
because he will know perfectly what our 
characters are ! He will know whether we 
have loved to think of him, whether we have 
prayed to grow more and more like him, and 
whether we have tried to fit our spirits for his 
presence or not. If we have spent all our 
thoughts and time here upon the earth to 
please and gratify our bodies, then we shall 
see that we have lived selfish and earthly 
lives ! But if we have loved the Lord with 
all our minds, if we have thought about God 
and remembered him, and asked him to 
feed our souls with the bread of life — then 
the Lord, who died to save us, will welcome 
us to sit with those who were spiritually 
minded here in this world. 

Oh ! what a mercy it is that God is so 
willing to give us the Holy Ghost ! Our 
minds are so dark and ignorant unless he 
teaches us ! Did not these spirits of ours 
come from God, who is a spirit ? Certainly 
we must go to him for the spiritual know- 



THINKING ALOUD. 



ledge and food we need. The blessed spirit 
can put into our hearts spiritual thoughts 
and spiritual desires, and he can make our 
inclinations spiritual and holy, instead of 
earthly and selfish. Surely when I feel the 
influences of the Holy Ghost in my heart, I 
will praise God for his mercy, and strive to 
keep the blessed spirit with me, to purify 
and sanctify my unholy heart. 

When I pray I will ask most of all for 
blessings for my soul. I will ask God to 
give me more faith that I may believe his 
promises and his solemn threatenings. I 
will ask him to open my spiritual eyes that 
I may not stumble and fall into sin and 
danger. 

My catechism teaches me that God is an 
infinite and invisible Being ; but if we choose 
we can certainly learn a great deal about 
the character of God, by studying the 
things which he has made. Everything 
around us shows his power and his goodness, 
and that he is a kind Father to us ! And 
the gift of his dear Son to suffer upon the 



100 



THINKING ALOUD. 



cross for us, shows us more than our minds 
can ever understand of his infinite love. 
Dear Father in heaven, help me to know what 
it is to live a spiritual life ! Teach me what 
it is to walk with God as Enoch did. Take 
my hand in thine and lead me to thyself. 

0 my Saviour, crucified ! 
Near thy cross may I abide ; 
There to gaze, with steadfast eye, 
On thy dying agony. 

Jesus, bruised and put to shame, 
Tells me all the Father's name ; 
Gcd is loye, I surely know, 
By my Saviour's depths of woe ! 

In his sinless soul's distress, 

1 behold my guiltiness ; 

O ! how vile my low estate, 
Since my ransom was so great. 

Dwelling on Mount Calvary, 
Contrite shall my spirit be ; 
Eest and holiness shall find. 
Fashioned like my Saviour's mind. 



THINKING ALOUD, 



101 



TWENTY-NINTH DAY. 

What ! know ye not that your body is the 
temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which 
ye have of God, and ye are not your own ? 

For ye are bought with a price ; therefore glorify 
God in your body, and in your spirit, which are 
God's, i Cor., vi. 19-20. 

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. 
Rom., vi. 12. 

Our bodies washed with pure water. Heb., 
x. 22. 

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed 
in white raiment. Rev., iii. 5. 

Do thyself no harm. Acts, xvi, 29. 

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall 
God destroy ; for the temple of God is holy, 
which temple ye are. 1 Cor., iii. 17 

Mine age is departed, and is removed from 
me as a shepherd's tent. Is., xxxviii. 12. 

]\/TY body is only the building in which my 
soul lives ! It is only a tent which my 
spirit may use while I am on my earthly 
journey ! But though it is so inferior to my 
9* 



102 



THINKING ALOUD. 



soul I must take good care of it, that it may 
be fit for my use, and add to my happiness. 
How great is the goodness which God has 
shown to us in the formation of our bodies ! 

Has God told us how to treat these bodies 
which he created with such skill ? I find 
in the Bible this command, Do thyself no 
harm — but that was what Paul said to the 
keeper of his prison, when he drew ou't his 
sword to hill himself. To be sure I never 
mean to kill myself! Does it not teach us 
that we must not harm our bodies in any 
way ? 

I will thank God that I am not deaf or 
dumb or crippled. I will praise him for all 
the pleasant things I see ; for all the pleas- 
ant sounds I hear. With my lips I will sing 
songs of gratitude to my heavenly Father ! 

My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. 
Oh ! let me never defile it by impure acts ! 
I pray God to make me pure and modest in 
all my thoughts, that I may be holy in body 
and spirit. 0 God, give me thy Holy Spirit 
that sin may not reign in my body ! 



THINKING ALOUD. 103 

In one place in the Bible it speaks about 
our bodies being washed with pure water ; 
and the saints in heaven are said to be 
clothed in white linen garments. I think 
when I read these verses, and those verses 
in the Old Testament, where it tells of the 
priests bathing so often in the lavers of brass, 
that God even notices whether we are clean 
and neat in our bodies and dress ! Are 
not whiteness and purity signs of the holi- 
ness and cleanness of our hearts ? May 
God help me to wash my soul in the foun- 
tain of Jesus 7 blood, that I may be cleansed 
from all sin, and may my body be kept a 
pure and holy temple for the Lord to dwell 
in! 

Am I strong and well ? How grateful I 
ought to be for health ; God's sweetest gifts 
can give us no pleasure if we are ill and in 
pam ! Let me never do anything to injure 
my health ! 

How long shall I live in this weak yet 
wonderful body ? God only can tell. He 
will take the tent down when it pleases 



THINKING ALOUD. 



him ! When I reach the shore of the river 
of death my soul must leave the body which 
gave it a home in this world. Who will 
watch to see me step upon the other side of 
Jordan ? Dear Lord Jesus, send some 
loving angel to welcome me with smiles, as 
I pass through the gates of glory. I trust 
thy grace to save me ! 

There came a little child with sunny hair, 

All fearless to the brink of Death's dark river. 

And with a sweet confiding in the care 
Of Him who is of life the joy and Giver ; 

And, as upon the waves she left our sight, 

We heard her say : " My Saviour makes them 
bright." 

Anon. 




THINKING ALOUD. 



THIRTIETH DAT. 

And he taught daily in the temple. Luke, 
xix. 43. 

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 
Ex., xx. 8. 

But the Lord is in his holy temple ; let all the 
earth keep silence before him. Hab., ii. 20. 

For where two or three are gathered together 
in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 
Mat., xviii. 20. 

Serve the Lord with gladness ; come before his 
presence with singing. Ps. c. 2. 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into 
his courts with praise ; be thankful unto him, and 
bless his name. Ps., c. 4. 

Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock. 
Cant., i. 8. 

TTO W happy those children must have been 
who went with their parents into the 
temple when Jesus taught the people ! I'm 
sure they listened very carefully to see if he 
said anything which they could understand ! 



10 6 THIXKIJG ALOUD. 

Oh ! what happy days those were when chil- 
dren could really see the Son of God, and 
hear his gracious words ! The Bible says 
that he is in his holy temple now ; and that 
when his people meet to worship him he is 
there to hear their prayers, and to accept 
their praise. It certainly is yery different 
from seeing him as the people saw him in 
the old temple of the Jews! I must have 
more faith than the young Jewish children 
had if I am permitted to feel the presence 
of the Sayiour in the house of God ! And 
those who believe are promised better things 
than those who see. Christ said to Thomas, 
"Because thou hast seen me thou hast be- 
lieved : blessed are they that have not seen, 
and yet have believed." I will not doubt 
that the Lord is in his holy temple. I will go 
into his presence with reverence, and offer 
my worship with a happy confidence that 
he is there to listen to my praise. Will not 
the Lord graciously reward my humble 
faith, if I go into his house expecting to 
meet him there ? Is he not pleased with 



THINKING ALOUD. 



107 



our faith In his promises ? Will he not draw 
near to those who try to draw near to him ? 

I like best to kneel in my own room be- 
fore God, and to read his word in my own 
dear Bible ; but did not David go into the 
great congregation to join the people in 
their public worship ? Did he not love to 
sing with them the glorious Psalms ? 0 
God, let not my heart be far from thee, 
while I honor thee with my lips. 

The ministers of the Gospel speak to us 
in the name ot the Lord ; I ought to at- 
tend to what they say. How can I expect the 
sweet and holy benediction to rest upon my 
soul when I leave the house of God, if I have 
been inattentive and careless while there? 

The Redeemer calls himself the Good 
Shepherd — does he not feed his flock in his 
sacred house on his own holy day ? 1 can- 
not miss the privilege of going there with 
those who love him. Yes ; I will try to 
hear and understand all that I can of the 
word preached ; and the Sabbath shall be to 
me my best and happiest day ! 



io8 



THINKING ALOUD. 



THIRTY-FIRST DAY. 

Whosoever will come after me, let him deny 
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me, 
Mark, viii. 34. 

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou 
shait be saved. Acts, xvi. 31. 

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy 
youth. Ec. xii., 1. 

I delight to do thy will, O my God ; yea, thy 
law is within my heart. Ps., xl. 8. 

O God, thou knowest my foolishness ; and my 
sins are not hid from thee. Ps., Ixix. 5. 

Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to 
come. 1 Thess., i. 10. 

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eter- 
nal life. 1 Tim., vi. 12. 

Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy 
kingdom. Luke, xxiii. 42. 

rjIHE followers of the Lord Jesus Christ 
are called Christians. Christ the Lord 
of glory is their leader, their friend, and 



THINKING ALOUD. 



their Saviour. Am I following him— is he my 
leader ? Do I love him — is he my friend ? 
Do I trust in him for my soul's salvation — is 
he my Saviour ? How happy I am if I can 
answer yes to these three questions ! 

Jesus does not tell us exactly how old we 
must be to be Christians — he does not say 
that one so young as I cannot be a Christian. 
Who are Christians ? Are they those who 
know Christ and believe him to be our 
Saviour who forgives us our sins, and saves 
us from the wrath of God which we have 
deserved ? I know that Jesus is the holy 
Son 61 God, and that he is a man also ; that 
he calls himself our brother and yet is our 
divine Saviour. I will trust in him to save 
my soul. 

Do Christians believe all that Jesus 
teaches? I will study the Scriptures to 
know whal Jesus says. 

Are Christians soldiers of Christ ? I will 
pray for strength to fight against every sin ; 
I will ask the Lord to dwell in my heart and 
to conquer for me. 



i IO 



THINKING ALOUD. 



Are Christians like Jesus, separate from 
sinners? I will love those who love the 
Lord. 

Do Christians weep over their sins ? I 
will, repent of all that is wicked in my 
heart and ways ; I will delight to do God's 
will, and his law shall be in my heart and I 
will try to love it. 

Do Christians work for Christ ? I will 
try to do good and to set a holy example. 

Do Christians belong to Christ ? I will 
give myself to him and ask him to remem- 
ber me in his heavenly kingdom. 

Are Christians all alike ? Oh no ; do not 
the beams of the same sun rear the tall piue 
upon the mountain top and the pretty violet 
out of its bed of glossy leaves ? Does not 
the sun bring forth the bud and flower from 
every seed and ripen the various fruits of 
the earth? So will God's Spirit be the 
author of holy thoughts and desires in all 
our hearts till we each become a temple 
where the Saviour loves to dwell. And as 
the sun shines upon the cold earth — so the 



THINKING ALOUD. 



I i I 



blessed Spirit will warm our different hearts 
that we may each bring from our own garden 
the fruits of faith and love to the praise of 
him who died to save us. 

Jesus ! thou art tlic sinner's Friend , 

As such I look to thee ; 
Xow, in the fullness of thy love, 

0 Lord ! remember me. 

Remember thy pure word of grace— 

Remember Calvary ; 
Remember all thy dying groans, 

And, then, remember me. 

Lord ! I am guilty— I am vile, 

But thy salvation's free ; 
Then in thy all abounding grace, 

Dear Lord ! remember me. 

And, when I close my eyes in death, 

When creature helps all flee, 
Then, O my dear Redeemer God ! 

1 pray, remember me. 

Parkinson Selec. 



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